My Serendipity

Kabanata 20

"We can celebrate your birthday there, if you want." mom said when I asked about my birthday and our plans.

"Really?" she smiled and nodded at me.

"Funny how you want to go back there." Jaira said. Hindi ko naman siya pinansin.

Three days after Theo and I talked-- more like shouted at each other. Hinatid niya lang ako sa bahay ng araw na yun, he even asked for my key cars para daw siya na kumuha ng sasakyan ko doon sa coffee shop. 

"No need. I can take it tomorrow. If that's your way to see me again, no thanks." I said and took my seatbelt.

He chuckled and shrugged.

After that day, he just texted and chatted me. Saying he is busy at work and still at Manila. Ano naman pakialam ko dun?

"Let your sister, Jaira. Focus on your boutique." mom said at her. She rolled her eyes.

"It's mine and hers, mom! She should contribute too."

"I'm still brokenhearted. Excuse me for a while." I said and winked at her.

January 15 when I set all the reservations and did grocery shopping. January 16 ng hapon kami aalis ng Manila. Kasama ko lang sina Kuya Pio, Kuya Drake, Jaira, Ate Lovie, Saav. Yuri, Tres and Andrius. Mom, dad, titos and titas will go January 17 in the afternoon because we will be having dinner party.

We will be sleeping January 16 at Kuya Brett's place. We'll just move on January 17 at the Inn.

Sinamahan naman ako ni Jaira at Saav to buy stuffs and for preparations. I've been busy and excited at the same time.

Theo:

I heard you'll going tomorrow.

I received a sudden text message from Theo.

Me:

Yeah.

Theo:

Hanggang kailan ka dun?

Me:

Y do u care, btw?

Tinawagan niya naman kaagad ako. Hindi ko naman siya sinagot. Let's take some time, Theo. I am enjoying this kind of treatment.

All my bags are packed. Lahat ng mga pwedeng gamitin at dalhin ay naayos ko na. I even wrote itinerary for us.

Before going to sleep, I received a call from Theodore. Hindi ko alam kung sasagutin ko ba iyon o hindi. I let it rang for four times.

"Hello." I said. Trying to stay cold and bored.

"Xav."

"What?"

"Are you still mad at me?" he asked me. Tumaas naman ang kilay ko kahit hindi niya nakikita.

Sometimes Theodore can be slow. 

"I need to sleep. Don't call me tomorrow." hindi ko na siya hinantay sumagot at pinatay na ang tawag.

Morning came and I can feel butterflies in my stomach. Ewan ko ba, nung unang punta ko sa isla hindi ganitong excitement ang naramdaman ko. 

Mom prepared breakfast for us. All my friends will go here first para sabay na kaming pumunta ng pier at isang sasakyan na lang. Nandito na rin sina Ate Lovie at Kuya Drake, they slept here last night.

Sa umagang yun ay umalis muna kami para ipa-check ang condition ng sasakyan na dadalhin mamayang hapon.

"Hindi naman necessary na magdala tayo ng sasakyan doon every day, Kuya. At tsaka, ilang araw lang naman tayo." I said.

"Kahit na. Malay mo bang marami pa tayong puntahan doon." rason nito. 

"Wag mo lang kaming dalhin sa mga pinuntahan mo. Let us explore." he added.

Si Kuya Brett na ang bahala doon! Wala naman akong masyadong alam sa mga pwede pang puntahan sa isla. 

Afternoon came and we already at the port. They were excited and can't stop talking what to do there. Ako naman hindi nag-iingay. Hindi ko alam ang nararamdama ko, na e-excite ako at kinakabahan at the same time.

Sa isang oras at mahigit na biyahe ay nakatulog ako sa balikat ni Kuya Pio. Everyone's standing up already ng nakikitq na nila ang mga iba't ibang kulay ng flags na nakatayo sa dagat.

"Wow!" Saav exclaimed.

"This is beautiful." added by Yuri.

Hindi naman 'to first time ng mga kapatid at pinsan ko pumunta dito, but they are still not familiarized of this island.

Inalalayan naman ako ni Tres ng bumaba ng barko. Si Saav naman ay kumukuha na kaagad ng litrato.

Hinintay naman namin si Kuya Pio na makalabas ng barko dala ang sasakyan.

When I roamed my eyes, I realized how I missed this place. Ang bawat daan na pasikot-sikot, mga taong nadadaanan ko noon, mga palengke, mga tinda, mga bata na tumtakbo takbo para tumulong sa mga dayo.

"No wonder why you stayed here for more than a month." Saav said. "Smile!" sabi nito at nag selfie kaagad. Mabuti naman at maayos ang kuha ko.

When we arrived at Kuya Brett's house, there were a lot of food. Meron pa silang niluluto for early dinner.

All were set at their house. Sa likod ng bahay nilq kung saan nagaganap palagi mga party. The music was loud, ang iba naman nagsimula ng maligo sa dagat, kami naman ni Jaira ay tumulong sa pag ihaw ng mga bbq.

"Brix, let's wash up first. We will celebrate Tita Via's birthday." sumusunod naman si Ate Faith sa anak habang tumtakbo ito palapit sa kanila Kuya Pio.

"Let her enjoy na lang muna, Faith. Kukulitin lang yan ng mga boys." Ate Lovie said ng lumabas ito galing sa bahay nila. May dal-dala itong mga bangus.

"Sobrang kulit na ng batang yan." Ate Faith said and giggled. Tiningnan naman namin di Brix na tumatawa dahil kinakarga ni Kuya Pio sa dagat.

Ate Lovie did the temaining dishes. Pumasok muna ako sa loob ng bahay nila.

"Xavia, hindi na ba kayo nagkita ni Theo sa Maynila?" tanong ni Ate Faith sa akin ng nakaupo kami sa sala.

"Nagkita po kami. Nagkausap. Nakita ko rin sila ni Vina na magkasama. Bago kami nag usap na dalawa." I explained.

"Hindi na sila nagkabalikan ni Vina." sabi nito. "Noong pumunta kaming Maynila ko pa sana sasabihin sa'yo, pero ayaw ni Brett. Gusto daw niya na manggaling muna kay Theo." she added.

Gusto ko sanang itanong sa kanya kung ano pa ba ang pinag-usapan nila with Theo. Because I am shy asking Theo, baka isipin niya I am still interested on him.

We had our dinner. Like the usual bonding dinner where everyone were loud, madaming kwento, reminiscing,  magtatawanan tapos magseseryoso kaagad ang usapan, then back with funny stories again.

Ten pm when we decided to freshen up and prepare the drinks and wait 'til  twelve midnight para salubongin ang kaarawan ko.

Marami naman ang banyo sa bahay nila Kuya Brett kaya yung iban naligo na kaagad. Abang hinihintay kung sino sa kanila ang unang matapos, ay inayos ko muna mga gamit ko. I stayed in the same room where I used before. And it feels like home again.

Hindi ko naman mahanap mga essentials ko sa bag, for sure naiwan ko sa sasakyan. I asked for the car key to Kuya Pio and head out.

Pagkalabas ko ng main door ng bahay nila Kuya Brett, sakto namang may huminto na isang pamilyar na sasakyan sa harap ng gate.  I want to neglect it, pero bumusena ito ng ilang beses.

Once again, everyone has a choice. And this time, i'm choosing this.